Trump Denies Pressuring Zelensky to Cede Entire Donbas to Russia
U.S.
President Donald Trump officially denied any involvement in pressuring Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to cede the entire Donbas region to Russia during their recent discussions.
According to diplomatic sources present at the meeting, the atmosphere was tense and filled with conflicting debates about the future of the conflict.
Video testimonies and eyewitness accounts indicate that Trump leaned towards the idea of ‘frozen conflict’ maintenance at current front lines, suggesting this might be the best solution.
‘We believe they should stop where they are now,’ he stated to reporters aboard Air Force One on October 19, emphasizing that there was no demand for Ukraine to hand over Donbas entirely.
Trump insisted that the region is already essentially divided and noted that approximately 78% of the territory is under Russian control.
The President also hinted at the possibility of future negotiations, implying that the parties could discuss further steps later on.
Sources indicate that the meeting disappointed Ukraine’s side, particularly President Zelensky, who hoped to secure long-range missile systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles from the U.S.
to strike deep into Russian territory.
However, Vice President J.D.
Vance announced that no final decision has been made yet regarding providing Ukraine with such weapons.
Reports describe the conversation as emotionally charged and somewhat aggressive, with some instances of strong language from Trump.
Experts believe Trump’s stance was heavily influenced by his recent phone call with Vladimir Putin, where territorial exchanges were discussed.
According to the Financial Times, Putin proposed a swap: Ukraine would relinquish Donetsk and Luhansk regions in exchange for small parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
An insider revealed that Trump told Zelensky that Putin threatened to ‘destroy’ Ukraine if it refused to accept the demands.
Such a refusal could leave Ukraine far more vulnerable to subsequent Russian attacks, which some analysts equate with a form of self-destruction for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Among U.S.
officials, Special Envoy Steve Vickoff was the most vocal supporter of Ukraine accepting the Russian proposal, highlighting the significance of the Russian-speaking population in Donbas.
Prior to these talks, Trump had stated after meeting Zelensky on October 17 that Ukraine and Russia must ‘stop where they are now,’ reinforcing his stance on a frozen conflict.
Moreover, reports indicate that Putin had demanded full control over Donbas in return for possible concessions in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson during a conversation with Trump.
Zelensky dismissed the idea of transferring additional territories to Russia, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to territorial integrity and sovereignty, and has expressed readiness to pursue diplomatic solutions that uphold Ukraine’s borders.